After all the help from this and the pre-order thread, I've now ordered the $99 HD upgrade from DirecTV, and placed a deposit on the HR10-250 at Tweeter.

DirecTV insisted that I commit to the HD package for 1 year, but when I told the CSR that I really didn't want a higher monthly, she agreed to give me the HBO and Showtime parts of my service free for 6 months each, which pretty much covers the HD package for the year.

The Tweeter CSR told me they're expecting an initial shipment of 80 HR10-250s on April 15. Doesn't seem realistic, but one can hope. I am #30 on their list. Price is $999.99 but they have a price guarantee for 30 days. Although they won't match web prices, they will match other retailers like CC.

"The plan would require the pay-TV (Cable/DBS) services to convert digital signals to analog so they could be viewed on analog TV sets, the kind most people now have, FCC officials told USA TODAY.

That would let the government reclaim broadcasters' analog TV channels in 2006 so they can be auctioned to wireless firms, paving the way for new and improved services and raising billions for the U.S. Treasury. Also, police and fire agencies are expected to use the airwaves to improve spotty radio systems."

"Under the plan, the government in 2006 would immediately reclaim broadcasters' analog channels in the dozens of markets where cable and satellite serve 85% of homes. The "must-carry" rules would then apply to broadcasters' digital signals. And the pay-TV systems would be required to convert digital signals to analog for consumers with analog sets.

The providers would still be able to supply pure digital signals to people with digital sets, FCC officials say.

Broadcasters, though, worry that consumers who don't have cable or satellite would have to shell out more than $100 for a digital-to-analog converter box, though FCC officials say a subsidy program could be arranged."

Have to think about this one, but it seems like what I've been hoping would happen. When I first read it, I thought they meant that cable companies would be required to put more digital channels back on the analog tier but now I think they mean making sure that analog TVs can always pick up a good package of local and national channels.

This also pushes Must Carry for digital AND analog local TV stations a step further.

For everyone with a regular TV hooked up to analog cable or rabbit ears let's sell them a heavily subsidized $30-50 adapter box that lets them watch a good chunk of channels on that TV. And don't charge them a monthly fee for those TVs.

__________________DirecTV vs. Cable: If you can't tell the difference, why pay the difference?

And remember, analog is just 480i. Pretty much any set-top box has some form of 480i output, including every HD box out there.

Not such a big deal.

Cable companies, however, have adopted a "give away free" model, which is great for consumers, but will kill the cable companies in the long run. They can't possibly pay for all this hardware at $0-$10 per month, now including DVR's in some markets.

A great thread, thanks to Feldon23. After reading this I am confident that DirecTV/TiVo will introduce a product that works well right from the start as the standard definition version did. My only complaint is no firewire but maybe the second generation will add that if the Dish Network PVR921 with firewire outperforms this PVR in the marketplace.

What is the real deal with the digital broadcasting? i've heard about an 80% number that is it is not reached, the law will not happen. It is quite ridiculous though to stop broadcating in a way that has been used for 60 years. All of those little 2.6' tvs will be unusable, PIP and other functions will be unusable, and there aren't even any digital boxes out there that aren't HD and have a pricetag to reflect it. Requiring all stations to broadcast in digital, and giving them the option to get rid of the analog makes sense, but outlawing it? Someone needs to send some drug dogs to sniff out the marajauna these guys at the FCC are smoking. VCRs, TiVos and pc tuner cards would need converter boxes. these would have to be ir blasted without the possibility of twin channel watching w/o multiple boxes. AND the range of these digital is in many cases shorter, so people would no longer be able to watch the news from 5 different cities. Although many people will have digital sets, most of those willl still have analog second and third sets. THIS LAW IS RIDICULOUS!!!! maybe HD for 10% of all channels, but not THIS.

Originally posted by Bigg What is the real deal with the digital broadcasting? i've heard about an 80% number that is it is not reached, the law will not happen. It is quite ridiculous though to stop broadcating in a way that has been used for 60 years. All of those little 2.6' tvs will be unusable, PIP and other functions will be unusable, and there aren't even any digital boxes out there that aren't HD and have a pricetag to reflect it. Requiring all stations to broadcast in digital, and giving them the option to get rid of the analog makes sense, but outlawing it? Someone needs to send some drug dogs to sniff out the marajauna these guys at the FCC are smoking. VCRs, TiVos and pc tuner cards would need converter boxes. these would have to be ir blasted without the possibility of twin channel watching w/o multiple boxes. AND the range of these digital is in many cases shorter, so people would no longer be able to watch the news from 5 different cities. Although many people will have digital sets, most of those willl still have analog second and third sets. THIS LAW IS RIDICULOUS!!!! maybe HD for 10% of all channels, but not THIS.

In sufficient quantity the digital tuner won't be very expensive at all. But getting to the point where this happens is the problem; in a price-competitive industry with very small margins, manufacturers aren't usually interested in being the first out there to force people into a new tuner. But if everyone has to do it at the same time, it might be possible.

Yes, equipment will become unusable without a separate receiver; that's why a phase-in period was established. Digital television is not something brand new sprung on us today and given 2 yearsw to completely replace analog broadcasts; this stuff has been in existence for years, and many stations have broadcast digitally for years. We're just now reaching a period where people can actually believe a critical mass can occur.

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I hadn't thought much about the little portable television receivers; that's probably one device that's just gonna be obsoleted. I doubt anyone's going to produce a little portable ATSC receiver for them.

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Who wants to pay them for a few channels to pip and such. Anyway, this new regulation is UNFAIR to every person in this country who owns an NTSC tuner. Which is like 250 million of us. theres probably like 400million or more tuners in the country. the numbers just don't add up for this regulation to work. I hope that there are not enough people with cable/sat to make this work, or someone stops the pot smoking i the FCC offices.

You're completely full of crap. There are not 250 million people watching TV with rabbit ears. Something like 25% have a TV that depends on OTA and something like 15% have their primary TV depending on OTA. For those people, a $30-50 adapter should be made available to tune in ATSC.

85% of the population has cable/satellite.

__________________DirecTV vs. Cable: If you can't tell the difference, why pay the difference?

there are 250million people with NTSC tuners that will be obsolete. A LOT of people have rabbit ears in combo with D*/ E* or on a second TV that they don;t want to pay mirroring on, or they don't want to run a cable to. Also, a LOT of people have those little 5" tvs that have antennas, or the little LCD ones. if you don't like NTSC, don't use it. simple as that. if you do, do.An adapter that adds another ugly thingy to your entertainment center, doesn;t allow pip and is herder to control than the integrated tuner in a tivo or vcr.